Conformal functionalization of cotton fibers via isoreticular expansion of UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks

Abstract

We report on the growing of metal-organic frameworks that are isoreticular and isostructural to UiO-66, onto cotton fabrics via a solvothermal method. Four different metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) (UiO-66, UiO-66-NH2, UiO-66-NDC, and UiO-67) were chosen as a case study. The presence of the UiO-based MOFs was confirmed through X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy. We used thermogravimetric analysis to quantify the amount of the MOF loading, which ranged from 0.8% to 2.6% m/m. We also explored the role of ligand size, growth time, and reaction temperature on the conformal coating of cotton fibers with these Zr-based MOFs. Cotton fabrics coated with Zr-based MOFs can find applications as selective filters in aggressive environments due to their enhanced chemical and thermal stabilities.